Nobody had to answer because Nick came bounding into the room. "I'm here!" he said and then his eyes got wide when he saw the bag that Justin was carrying. "Ohhh mine?"

Justin laughed as he nodded his head but put the bag behind him. "You're not getting it till later when you get to open all the other presents..."

"But I wana open it now," Nick whined, he was still very good at throwing fits even though he was older. He had a temper on him and had been sent to his room or grounded many a time for it.

"Nuh uh," Justin said and then looked around. "Where's Brian anyways?"

Nick shrugged his shoulders as he bounced around like the hyper active preschooler he was. The doctors had diagnosed him with ADHD a few months back when his pre-school tutor told Brian that Nick couldn't even sit still for two minutes. His mind was good at going in every single direction, which is one reason why the potty training thing had been so hard. The boy had much better things to do and they always got in the way.

AJ laughed shaking his head as he watched Nick bounce around the room. "Okay...he's wired for sound today."

Just then Brian walked into the house followed by Kevin, Howie, and his parents. "Hey guys," he greeted and closed the door after everyone entered. "When did you get here?"

Justin turned around and smiled at everyone. "Just a few seconds ago. Hi Mr. and Mrs. Littrell, Kevin, Howie..." He greeted forgetting to call Brian's parents by their first name like they had told him to so many times over the past two years.

"It's my birthday...it's my birthday!" Nick exclaimed as he bounced around the room, telling everybody it was his birthday even though everybody already knew that.

Harold groaned as he shook his head at Justin but before he could say anything his wife beat him to it. "Justin, how many times have we told you to call us Jackie and Harold?" She questioned him in the same tone of voice Brian uses on Nick when Nick would do something wrong.

Howie chuckled as he walked past them. "Uh oh," he said patting Justin on the shoulder.

Brian just laughed as he escorted everyone in the living room and taking all the presents and putting it in the corner.

Justin wrinkled his nose and blushed. "Sooooryyyyyyyyy," he said.

"Uh huh, that's what you say all the time," Harold said. "You're looking kinda pale... you eating properly, getting sleep?"

Brian snorted. "You think this looks bad? You should have seen him come in this morning, you would have had a heart attack," he said.

Justin pouted. "I'm gonna go and find Nick," he said not liking the attention he was getting.

"I don't think it will be too hard to find him," Kevin laughed because he could now hear Nick in the dining room shaking presents. He wasn't sure what it was about the boy but he became a total pain in the, ‘you know what’ on his birthday. He had talked to his cousin a few days ago and Brian had said he was almost dreading the party because Nick was already testing the waters sort to speak and it had been like three days till his birthday.

"I think Brian would have been better off having his own kid," AJ said playfully. "Because I can't see your guys genes being this crazy, but Carter genes...wow."

Justin walked into the dining room and ran over to Nick from behind, scaring the blonde a little, and hugged him tight before picking him up and carrying him out in to the living room and flopping him down on the couch.

Brian shook his head. "If I had my own kid, who's to say he won't be as worse as Nick, if not more?" He questioned looking at all of them. "Sometimes genes have nothing to do with it." He then gave his parents a pointed look.

Jackie nodded her head. "Yup, he's totally right on that one. But Nick's a pretty cute kid... too bad he isn't in the size of a four year old, it would be much easier to handle him then," she said and then laughed when she saw Justin carry a surprised looking Nick into the living room. "Well, his energy seems to betray the weariness his face is portraying..."

"I wanna open my presents!" Nick exclaimed as he sat on the couch with a huge ass pout on his face. He even had his arms crossed for effect.

"You really sure you still want one of those?" Kevin whispered to Howie. They had been kinda toying with the idea of adopting over the last few months...nothing was totally said for sure but they had thought about it.

"Not yet," Brian said. "Don't you want to eat cake and then ice cream?” He questioned knowing Nick had been wanting to eat his cake since last week before Brian even had the chance to order one. "We're going to have lunch and then we'll blow out the candles for you and then you can open your presents..."

Justin sat down next to Nick and threw his legs over his lap, to keep him in place and he smiled when AJ sat on the other side of Nick and did the same thing, placing his legs over Justin's. So they were now sitting with their legs over Nick.

Howie started chuckling. "Maybe we can just adopt Justin?" He joked and then turned to look at Kevin. "Yup, I really wanna have one of those..."

Harold put his arm around Jackie as they both sat back in their seat watching how all the boys were interacting with one another. They were both glad that Justin was able to make it to the party. They hadn't seen the younger man in ages but they didn't like the fact that a young man like him had bags under his eyes. He tightened his hold on her and kissed her forehead before looking over at his son. Brian is definitely a good father.

"Daddy!" Nick whined, he now called Brian daddy all the time...he actually has been since two months after everything happened. "Justin and Uncle AJ wont let me up." He was in a very, very whiny mood...probably for the fact that he had kept Brian up until 3am the last two nights and no nap during the day. He was too excited about his party and had wanted to talk through every detail with Brian...who in turn wasn't a happy camper to be awake at 3am.

"Hey now, we can all go home if you wanna be pissy," AJ warned, not really thinking about watching his language. Nick was beyond the age where he repeated every single word he heard...at least right after AJ said it...who knows if he says it any other times.

"Yup," Justin said smiling at AJ. "We can just up and leave, take the presents and everything, no party, no cake, no ice cream." He then slowly started to lift his and AJ's legs knowing full well Nick would place his hands on them and keep them in place.

Brian remained silent as he watched Nick's expression before turning his gaze to his parents and Howie and Kevin, amused.

Nick got a horrified look on his face and started shaking his head like crazy. "Don't go...don't take my presents...and you cant' take my cake...daddy bought the cake," he said glaring at Justin a little. Part of him was a little mad at Justin for being gone so much, so that wasn't helping the situation any.

"I never said anything about taking the cake, Nicky," Justin said giving Nick a weird look for glaring at him. "I just said you weren't going to have any."

Brian knew part of the reason why Nick was acting like the way he had been for the past few weeks. It was because of Justin and his absence and that was why he walked to the back of the couch and made hand motions pointing at Nick and then making a heart shape with his finger's before breaking it and pointing at Justin. Since Justin was sitting sideways he knew the younger man would be able to see him.

Howie and Brian's parents watched Brian curiously wondering just what that meant.

Justin wrinkled his forehead wondering why Nick's heart would be crushed by him. He then looked at Nick and then back up at Brian. Suddenly everything clicked. "You're not mad at me, are you Nicky?" Justin questioned in a soft voice as he looked into Nick's eyes.

Nick shook his head as he pushed Justin and AJ's legs away from him and got up off the couch. "I don't want a party anymore anyways...I don't like presents and cake and all that shit!" He exclaimed before running out of the room and up the stairs to his bedroom.

Kevin's eyes went wide, he had never heard a curse word come out of Nick's mouth without the boy apologizing like crazy knowing he always got put in time out or grounded for using them. That word had slipped out too easily and that scared him a little.

Justin was shocked at Nick's outburst and he stared blankly up the stairs.

"Whoa," Jackie said.

Brian let out a heavy sigh before running up the stairs after Nick.

Howie leaned into Kevin. "Maybe not..." he said, sadly in reference to adopting a kid.

"I don't think that was normal," Kevin whispered, having a feeling something was really not right with Nick. They had watched him getting slightly depressed and unhappy over the last few weeks...months even...but he hadn't thought much about it until now.

AJ scooted closer to Justin and wrapped an arm around his shoulder. "He didn't mean it baby...he's just having some issues that needs to be worked through." He whispered, at least he hoped that’s what it was. He then glanced over at Jackie and Harold and sighed...that wasn't something grandparents liked to see.

Justin sighed. He felt like he'd been kicked in the crotch and then stomped on his head. His headache was coming back now since his mind was working over time. He closed his eyes tight when the pain became too much, a few tears escaping, as he brought his hands up to put pressure on his forehead. Everything was going wrong and today was not his day. He wanted to scream and cry but he couldn't not with any of them there.

Howie looked at Justin worried at the way he was acting. He didn't like the look one bit especially since since the color just drained from his face at what Nick had said.

Harold and Jackie had no idea what to do. Nick was being all depressed and acting out and now here's Justin who looked like the living dead.

Brian barged into Nick's room and marched right over to Nick. "What was all that downstairs?" He questioned angrily. "What's gotten into you?"

"I don't want a party no more...I want dem all to go home!" Nick screamed at Brian before he ran into the bathroom and shut the door. There wasn't a lock on it thankfully. "I want you to go away too...me don't like you." He didn't mean a single thing he was saying, he was just having a very hard time communicating why he was upset and it was making him angry. Grabbing all the stuff on the counter he threw it on the ground making a loud noise that probably even the people downstairs could hear.

"Justin...come on baby...he didn't mean it...Nick is just being Nick," AJ said, forgetting to mention that Nick had done this sort of thing before...but Justin hadn't been around to see it. Then again this was probably the worst, but still.

"I'm sorry he's acting like this..." Kevin said to his aunt and uncle, for some reason feeling like he should apologize for the way Nick was acting, even though it wasn't his fault.

Jackie and Harold shook his head at Kevin. "No, it's okay. I just hope everything's alright up there and down here, too," Harold said. They nodded up the stairs and then at Justin.

"Did you see the look in his eyes when he said that?" Justin questioned, his voice muffled because now his face was in his hands. "Did you see the anger?... it was directed right at me." Justin could feel like heart breaking and he knew he couldn't stay in control anymore. He quickly got up and walked down the hall into the guest bedroom.

Brian counted to ten before walking over to the bathroom door and opening it. "They are not going anywhere because they came all this was to see you," he said. "Why did you get angry with Justin? Why don't you want any of them here? If you ask them to go, they will but if you ask Justin to go... you might not see him in a long time... what then?"

Nick looked at Brian for a second and there was fear in his eyes...a fear that hadn't really been there for a year or so. Things had been going well with Nick forgetting about all he had been through in his past...or so people thought. The only problem was, Nick was getting older and better at hiding it. It was only at major times of weakness that it started to show through and this was one of them. People who had been sexually abused even though they get out of the situation things never go away and sometimes even bigger problems come into play such as depression and anger management problems. "I...I don't want a party, daddy...I just want stay up here and play," he said before looking down at the mess he had made. He had never told Brian before but on his second birthday... his father had really hurt him that day. That was why he got so hyper and crazy on his birthday was so he wouldn't remember things that were far back in his memory. Well, his slight anger towards Justin made him forget his happy thoughts and everything just blew out of the water.

Brian dropped to his knees in front of Nick with a heavy sigh. He was close to tears now because he just couldn't seem to understand anything that was going on with Nick and he didn't know what to do to help him. Maybe he should take Mrs. Thompson's advice and go see a child's therapist or something. He noticed the fear in Nick's eyes and that was the same look that Nick would give when it had something to do with his parents. "Why?"

"I don't like parties...I might get a bad present." Nick tried to explain as he sat down on the floor too, really wishing he could tell Brian better what was going on in his head because he didn't like feeling scared and lonely. "Can Spiderman take bad daddy out of my brain too?" he asked tears falling down his eyes. He remembered when the guys had promised to make Spiderman get bad daddy...and it worked because he hadn't seen Bob Carter again since that day in the hospital...but that didn’t mean he forgot about it.

Brian stared at Nick in shock and then his heart went out to him. "Oh god, Nicky," he said crawling the little distance over to Nick and pulling him into a hug. "You haven't forgotten have you? What did he do to you at parties?"

"When I was this many..." Nick paused to hold up two fingers. "Mommy was taking care of Bobbie...and daddy said he would take me out for a special birthday present." He said, sniffling a little. This was the first time he had actually been able to tell Brian what really went on. They had all kind of just moved on after the initial problems two years ago so Nick hadn’t really had the chance to actually verbally explain what his daddy had done to him. "He took me to the beach...that was nice...we played and stuff but when we got home...mommy wasn't home..."

Brian frowned as he listened intently to what Nick was saying. "And..."

"Daddy then said we were gunna play a game...and I didn't wanna play a game because daddies games weren't fun. He got mad at me for not wanting to play...so he hit me in the tummy and then made me play anyway." Nick whispered, wiggling around uncomfortably like he could actually remember how it felt.

Brian took in a deep breath. He didn't need to hear anymore because he already knew just what Bob had done by Nick's reaction. "Do you want to continue telling me or would you like to stop?" He questioned not wanting to force Nick if he didn't want to. "Daddy hasn't been here in a while... he's gone," Brian whispered. "He's not going to hurt you anymore, I promise. With us," he said referring to him and the guys. "You’ve never gotten any bad presents because we're not like that and we could never give any bad presents."

"I know that...but I still remember it." Nick whispered as he snuggled into Brian's arms with a sigh. "I'm sorry I was a bad boy," he said knowing he had done a lot of things he shouldn't have done.

Brian sighed as he rested his head on top of Nick's head. "I'm sorry for not understanding," he said. "But I don't know how I can help you get rid of those memories." Hypnosis? Regression? Therapy? He had no clue. He was going to call Nick's doctor and ask him for his opinion. "Do you really want me to go downstairs and tell everyone that the party is over? It won't happen until next year..."

"I don't want all my presents to go bye bye...or my cake." Nick whispered, looking down at his jeans, picking at some strings since they had holes in the knees.

"They won't go bye bye," Brian said. "The presents and food are all here for you Nick, only for you. Justin was just joking with you and you know Justin would never take anything from you. Ever."

"But if the party is gone...then I can't have my stuff," Nick said as he took a deep breath. "I don't want dem to leave...but now I'm scared to go down there...I was mean."

"Yea, you were mean," Brian said. "But I bet if you go down there and apologize I'm sure they will understand and forgive you. And don't be scared, they know you and they love you. I'll be right next to you..."

Nick bit his lower lip, wanting to admit something. "I am kinda mad at Justin...is that bad?" he asked, thinking it was really mean and bad of him to be mad at Justin...but he was.

Brian shook his head. "Why are you mad at Justin?"

"He never comes to play no more." Nick whispered.

Brian sighed as he held Nick in his arms. "But that's not Justin's fault," he said. "You know he calls and comes over whenever he can."

Nick sighed and nodded before getting up. "I go down in minute...I gotta go potty." he said waiting till Brian walked out of the room before he actually shut the door...something he didn't do normally.

Meanwhile downstairs everybody was beginning to get worried when things were taking so long. AJ had thought about going after Justin, but part of him knew the younger man just needed a little time to cool off so instead he just sat with everybody else and wondered.

It was really silent down in the living room, so silent that they could probably hear crickets if it were at night, or a pin drop if the floor wasn’t carpeted. Howie's leg was bouncing with nervousness and curiosity. Harold and Jackie kept looking up the stairs and down the hall to where Justin had disappeared.

Brian waited patiently on the other side of the bathroom door for Nick to be done.

Nick flushed the toilet and walked out of the bathroom with his pants still unbuttoned. "Help please," he said meaning with the button because sometimes he had trouble getting it to work.

Brian helped Nick button his pants before walking him down the stairs and into the living room. He looked around at all the silent people wondering what happened to them. "Hey guys..."

Howie looked up at Brian and then smiled. "Hey, everything alright?" He questioned.

Brian nodded his head and looked over at Nick.

Nick's eyes were on the empty space next to AJ. His heart was pounding and tears were coming to his eyes again. Justin had left without saying good-bye. He then remembered what he was supposed to do. "I...I'm sorry...I yelled and ran away and was bad," he said looking around at all the people...but still feeling like he had been punched in the stomach by not seeing Justin.

Kevin smiled at Nick. "It's okay buddy...we all get a little angry sometimes."

Howie nodded his head. "Yah, we all have our moments," he said and then saw Nick looking over at the spot where Justin had been sitting. "Justin's in the guest bedroom," he said quietly.

Brian wrinkled his forehead in confusion and looked at them wondering why Justin was in there, all by himself.

Harold shrugged his shoulders and Jackie shook her head.

'Does the drama ever end?' Brian silently questioned in his mind.

Nick didn't say anything else just turned and walked down the hall to the guest bedroom. He knocked on the door waiting for Justin to say it was okay to come in. He had learned about a year ago to always knock on Justin's door...cuz you could see things you really don't wanna see.

Justin had burrowed his head under the pillow wanting the pain to stop as he cried quietly, which really didn't help his headache any. He didn't hear the knocking on his door.

"Justin me come in?" Nick called through the door, tears coming to his own eyes when Justin didn't answer the door. He was scared that Justin didn't want to be his friend anymore.

Justin brought his head from under the pillow thinking he heard something but he listened for a few seconds and when he didn't hear anything he shoved his head back under the pillow. He hadn't locked the door or anything.

Tears continued to fall down Nick's face as he tried to open the door and found that it was unlocked. He then walked in a little. "Justin...me sowwy...me come in?" he asked, reverting back to talking funny because he was upset.

"Huh?" Justin questioned as he brought his head from under the pillow and rolled on to his side before rolling onto his back. He quickly wiped his eyes though it didn't do much because his eyes were blood shot and red and puffy. "Hey Nick," he greeted quickly sitting up and trying to look normal.

"I...I'm sorry I yelled at you." Nick whispered, not moving from where he was standing in the door. "I'm just not feeling so good today...made me mad." It was true, emotionally and mentally he was feeling crappy.

"Don't apologize," Justin said and then cleared his throat when it sounded low and gravelly. He patted the spot next to him. "Why aren't you feeling good today? It's your birthday, you should be bouncing on the walls and driving everyone crazy with happiness."

"I don't really like my birthday very much," Nick said as he walked to sit down next to Justin. "Why are you sad?"

"Why don't you like your birthday?" Justin questioned as he watched Nick closely.

Nick looked at Justin with those fear-filled wide blue eyes of his. “I get bad presents,” he said.

Justin sighed and it didn't take a genius to figure out what Nick was talking about. "I'm sorry to hear that," he said pulling Nick in for a hug. He wondered just what it would take to get rid of al the demons within Nick's mind.

"Why are you sad?" Nick asked again, knowing Justin had been crying.

"That headache I had earlier came back," he said not really going into the reasons why. Nick wouldn't understand. "Don't worry about it. You should head back out there and get that party started..."

"You're not going to come?" Nick asked, his eyes getting sad.

"I will," Justin said with a sigh. "I just need to wash my face."

"Okay," Nick said with a sigh of his own, still feeling like Justin didn't want to be with him anymore. With that he walked out of the room and back out to the party.

Justin quickly got up and walked into the bathroom and looked at his reflection. He cringed at the way he looked which was worse than that morning. He washed his face and wiped it on the towel. It didn't do him much good. He walked out of the room and over to where everyone else was and tried to put the best smile on his face that he could muster up with.

AJ looked over at Justin as he walked into the room. The rest of the group had just headed outside to start lunch and swim a little. "Hey, are you okay?" he asked, really worried for his friend.

"Yeah, I'm fine," Justin, said unconsciously reverting back to how he used to be two years ago when all this happened with Nick. "Where's everyone else?" He questioned looking around and not seeing the rest of the folks.

"They are out getting ready for lunch and I think Nick might be swimming...but you and I are going to talk," AJ said as he led Justin to sit down on the couch. "Please tell me why you're so sad. You used to tell me everything...why does that change now?"

Justin reluctantly sat down beside AJ before tilting his head back, resting it against the back of the couch, his gaze fixed on the ceiling. "It doesn't change now," he said softly. "It's just... I feel like a screw up." He felt like everything that was going on was his fault and that if he weren't so busy everything would have been salvageable.

"A screw up...how?" AJ asked in shock. "You're everything but a screw up...hell, you're like the most amazing person I know. I mean, you're doing so much at school with your workload and basketball. I don't see how you're a screw up."

'Yeah, but look what happened to us,' Justin thought to himself. "If I wasn't so busy Nick wouldn't be angry with me," was all he could say.

"I think there is a lot more to why Nick is mad then what happened with you guys." AJ pointed out, having a feeling there was something else to make Nick in the mood he's in.

"I know why he got upset," Justin said with a sigh. "Bad memories... but the reason why he'd been acting the way he was... lashing out and stuff was because of me. Brian had made it clear that Nick was depressed because I hadn't been around... it doesn't take a genius to figure out why Nick had that little outburst... with all these emotions bottled up inside of him."

"Well there isn't anything you can do about that baby besides try to talk to him and make him understand what you're going through. He goes to school now I bet there is some way you can make him relate to what you're doing at school. Talk to him about doing fifty shape worksheets...writing his name a hundred times and then having to go to the concerts with the guys in the afternoon or something like that." AJ suggested hoping he was helping the situation.

Justin scrunched up his nose. "I told him how busy my life had been this morning up in his room and I'm sure Brian had told Nick on numerous occasions because whenever I'd called Nick would say something like 'Brian told me you won a game' or something," he said and then sighed. "Whatever." He turned his head and looked over at AJ for a long minute feeling something missing within himself.

"He's four Justin...sometimes they need it said to them many times," AJ said with a sigh, feeling like he wasn't able to help anymore. "I don't know what else to say..."

"Don't worry about it or me anymore," Justin said still looking at AJ. "I'll be fine and I'm sure Nick will be fine. I'm sure everything will turn out fine." He had to think optimistically. Yes. Think positive. He vaguely remembered Dr. Phil say something like that once while he had guest starred on the Oprah Winfrey show. "Muuuah," he said puckering his lips and air kissing AJ before pushing himself up.

"Hey now...I will too worry about you because you are my friend and I love you." AJ said with a smile as he too got up. "You wana go swim in our boxers?" he giggled knowing neither of them had suits.

Justin chuckled. "It's a good thing then that I decided to wear boxers, I was thinking about going commando," he said walking with AJ out back.

"Ohh, well skinny dipping doesn't sound to bad too me." AJ laughed, smacking Justin on the ass as they walked through the kitchen. "But I'm not sure if Jackie and Harold would care for that much."

Justin laughed. "I don't think Brian would even approve of that in front of Nick," he said. "And I don't really think it would be appropriate to do that in front of Howie either." He laughed as he thought about all the times he and Howie had flirted with each other making AJ and Kevin red with jealousy only to go home with their respective partners and fuck their brains out. That had been fun. Justin sighed.

"I think Howie would love to see you naked...but I still think putting that one cologne on would have an even bigger effect on him." AJ giggled as they walked outside.

Justin stopped in his tracks. "Uh oh," he said as he realized that he did indeed put Howie's cologne on. He started calling it Howie's cologne because it always seemed to bring out the kinky side of Howie out.

"You didn't..." AJ asked with wide eyes. That cologne was like giving Howie viagra. He started to laugh. "Ohh, you so gotta go by Howie...get him all hot and bothered around Jackie and Harold!" He exclaimed practically jumping up and down. It was like they were best friends again playing a little prank. Normally he wouldn't do this...but he knew now that Nick didn’t get freaked out around hard-ons like he used to...now he just giggled and laughed it off like the rest of the guys even though he really didn’t get what it meant.

"What?" Justin questioned looking at AJ with wide eyes. "Are you insane?" He laughed and went to stand behind AJ. Howie had a nose like a good hunting dog. He could smell anything from anywhere and he knew it would be moments before Howie would walk over to him and drag him somewhere and get Kevin pissed at him. "Nuh uh," he said wrapping his arms around AJ. "If he's going to come here and drag me, I'm bringing you with me." And that was that. And like he predicted a dripping wet Howie was making his way over to them, smiling big.

"Hey guys," Howie greeted. "How are you two doing?"

"We're doing good...how are you D?" AJ asked trying not to smirk knowing it would only be a matter of seconds before Howie got a really good whiff and was totally gone.

"I'm good and the water is really good," Howie said. "Too bad we aren't at the beach, though." Just then he got a whiff of something that made him perk up. "OOoo," he said and made a grab at Justin's arms but frowned when it was still held tightly around AJ. "Dude, you gotta like let go and come play water volleyball..."

"Nooooo," Justin said because then Howie would want to be on his team and then Howie would jump on his shoulders and then Howie would dunk him in the water and Kevin would be pissed. Those eyebrows are very intimidating when they were dripping with water and the angry green eyes were focused on him although the rest of Kevin was something to be left for after hours in the confines of a well sound proofed room. Justin was losing his fight with Howie. The Latino had a lot more strength than people give him credit for and before he knew it he was being dragged, but his hold on AJ never let up.

"Kevin...your boyfriend is horny and taking Justin!" AJ called at the top of his lungs, giggling the whole time.

Kevin looked in Howie's direction and groaned. He could totally tell that Justin didn't want this...but Howie...Howie was being silly. "Howard Dorough let him go," he said giving Howie almost a parental look. He then groaned when Howie turned the right way and it was obvious in his wet trucks what the cologne was doing to him. "Babe...do you feel anything odd?" he asked with raised, wet...bushy eyebrows.

Howie wrinkled his nose in confusion. "No, why?" He questioned. "I'm just trying to get these two to join the fun." Howie still doesn't know just what that cologne Justin wears does to him. It's like it transforms him into someone else and when the scent isn't there anymore he becomes Howie D again.

Justin yelped when Howie pulled at his hand with a lot of force and before he knew it he popped his head out of the water to catch some air and then laughed when AJ popped his head up right beside him, looking very displeased. That was a hot look. AJ wet. AJ wet still in his clothes. AJ wet with an angry look on his face still in his clothes. The water wasn't cold enough for Justin.

Brian was at the grill grilling up their lunch laughing at everything that was unfolding in the pool.

Harold and Jackie just looked at one another before shaking their heads, both wondering it there was something in the LA water that was making them act out of sorts.

AJ jumped out of the water and sat on the edge and his eye went wide. "Justin...look out." He could see Howie coming right at Justin from the back and he had a hungry look in his eyes.

Kevin was now standing next to Brian but keeping a close eye on his horny lover. "I wonder if that cologne would have the same affect on him if it was on me?"

"Wha-" Justin said but it was too late because he was back under the water and Howie was right on top of him. After a few seconds he resurfaced and looked around wondering how the hell he got to the deep end of the pool but more importantly just where the hell Howie was. He then thought that he should probably swim over to ledge and get out of the water as quick as he could because Howie was a good swimmer and a fast one at that. He had to get out. He quickly swam over to the ledge and pulled himself of and just in time too because Howie was right there making a grab for his ankle. "Geez," he said before quickly running to where AJ was and sat behind him. "I feel like I weigh a thousand pounds." He placed both his legs on either side of AJ so that the older man was between his legs as he rested his chin on his shoulder.

Brian looked over at his cousin before shaking his head. "I have no clue but you can ask Justin if he would just give you that deng bottle and then make him promise to never buy that or use it ever again," he suggested.

Kevin walked over to where Howie was with a slight pout on his face. "Why are you getting all horny on Justin?" he asked, not realizing that Howie didn't even know he was horny and it was obvious too.

"I'm not horny on Justin," Howie said as he looked up at Kevin. "Why the hell would I be horny for Justin? He's still a kid... to me, anyways." Howie wondered about Kevin sometimes.

Kevin stepped back a little and looked down at Howie, wanting Howie to look down at himself. He then looked back up with a raised eyebrow.

Howie looked down and then his eyes widened. His mouth was shaped in an 'O' as he looked back up at Kevin. He shook his head. "I don't even know what the hell had caused that... but I swear I'm not horny becasue of Justin... he's got a funky nose besides he's with AJ..." The scent of Justin's cologne must have gone or worn off with the water because now Howie was becoming Howie again.

Kevin smiled and shrugged his shoulders. "Well whatever the reason...you're sporting something very nice wood right now," he said with a smirk on his face...not even sure if Howie would want to do anything about it now that he was 'Howie' again.

Howie wrinkled his forehead and shot a quick glance over at Harold and Jackie. "Kevin," Howie gasped that he would suggest something like that. "Brian's parents are here and besides it's Nick birthday..." He whispered but was laughing nonetheless before shrugging and getting out of the water. "I'll be right back."

Kevin sighed a little and nodded his head. He missed his semi kinky Howie... He had taken a vacation a little while ago and seemed to have gotten lost. "Yeah...okay." he said as he walked away.

"Ut oh...Kevvy Kev looks sad." AJ whispered to Justin as they watched the scene between Kevin and Howie unfold.

Justin 'hmmmed' before sighing. "That's a good thing right? I mean, Howie must be back and that means weird Howie isn't there anymore which means I'm safe not only from Howie but from Kevin's wrath. Right?" Justin questioned and he thought about all the guys for a moment. "You guys are really weird. What did I get myself into?" He shook his head.

Brian finished barbequing the last of the chicken. He's already grilled the hot dogs, chicken, hamburgers and some kabobs saving to do the barbeque chicken last. He started to set the table and when he was done he looked over at everyone and smiled to see them all having fun. "Lunch is ready," he announced as he walked back over to the grill getting ready to give the 'customers' their order.

Nick bounced over to the food, he had been having fun playing by himself for a while, while the adults were acting just plain strange. "Can I have a hot dog, daddy?" he asked with a smile on his face.

Kevin made his way over to the food with a look on his face like somebody had killed his dog. "I'll have a cheese burger."

"You may have lost the wrath of Kevin...but now we have a pouty Kevin...I'm not sure if THAT is good either." AJ laughed as he got up with Justin as they headed over to the food.

Justin sighed. "Again, you are all just plain weird." He grabbed a plate and waited for Jackie and Harold to get their food from Brian before it was his turn. "I'll have one piece of the barbeque chicken, one grilled chicken, two hot dogs, and a hamburger."

Brian knew he shouldn't be surprised at Justin's request but still... he was surprised. "Alrighty then," he said placing all the things Justin had asked onto his plate.

Justin then walked over to the tray that had the lettuce and tomatoes and onions so he could make himself a sandwich. He then grabbed some buns for his burger, chicken, and hot dogs. Then he grabbed a can of soda, a cup with ice, some ketchup before making his way over to the table.

"Well he's eating fine," Harold saying eyeing the pile of food on Justin’s plate.

Kevin walked over and sat down next to his aunt and uncle slightly glaring at Howie without realizing it. Yes, he was supposed to be the mature one...but even the mature one had their immature moments.

Justin smiled as AJ took a seat next to him and then whispered in his ear. "Howie's back and he's got a lot of making up to do," he said referring to the way Kevin was glaring at Howie and Howie seemed to be shrinking into himself.

Nick followed AJ and Justin and sat down with them. "Can I eat with you?" he asked, not sure if Justin wanted him there or not.

Kevin looked at his uncle who was looking at him funny and just tried to smile. "Like your burger Uncle Harold?"

Justin scooted down a bit causing AJ to scoot down to the edge, so Nick would have room to sit. "Of course," he said moving the napkins and ketchup bottles out of the way so Nick could put his food down.

"Oh yah," Harold said as he looked down at his half eaten burger. "Brian’s is becoming good at the grill."

"Yeah...he is." Kevin said before he looked over to try and see where Howie went again. He then spotted him next to Brian getting food and sighed. It had been close to five days since they had, had sex...and he was beginning to wonder if Howie just didn't want him anymore. "Maybe I'm too old." he said, not realizing he said it loud enough for his older relatives to hear him.

Harold's was in the middle of bringing his burger to his mouth when he heard Kevin's thoughtful statement. "Too old for what?" He questioned, his gaze following Kevin's gaze.

Justin looked up too, since Kevin was sitting right across from him. He turned his head around and saw Howie talking quietly to Brian. Kevin had to be kidding, right? Kevin had to be one of the healthiest, physically fit and gorgeous men he'd ever laid eyes on though he kinda scared Justin just a tad bit. How could he possibly think he was too old for Howie or anyone of the legal age for that matter? "You're kidding me right?" Justin questioned, as he turned back around and looked at Kevin.

Kevin actually blushed a little when he realized people had heard him. "No...I'm not kidding." He sighed and looked down at his burger again.

"Well even if you're not kidding...you're wrong." AJ added a smile on his face. "D's a lucky man to have you...that's for sure." He said and then glanced at Harold and Jackie, then shrugged...they were adults they might actually have some advice on the topic.

Jackie cleared her throat as she put down her half eaten hot dog. "Honey, I don't think you have anything to be worried about," she said. "Howie loves you. He's stayed with all these years, hadn't he? And if i'm not mistaken you two had a rough start somewhere in Europe... but he stayed with you..."

Harold nodded his head. "Yah, son," he said as he placed a comforting hand on Kevin's shoulder. "You've got nothing to worry about."

Justin looked down at his half empty plate, again feeling like he was screw up and everything was his fault. Today was not his day. He let out a heavy sigh.

Kevin looked at Justin and smiled a little. "Hey Justin...don't feel bad about this okay...we've been having problems...in well...that area for a while now." he finally admitted knowing that would shock the people at the table.

Justin raised his eyebrow at Kevin. Surprised that he would admit that. "I don't see why you two would..." Justin trailed off, blushing.

Harold just squirmed uncomfortably in his seat not really sure he needed to know about their sex lives while he was trying to eat his lunch.

Jackie just started to laugh, this was all a little too funny for her and she didn't mind it one bit as she jumped into the conversation. "So, when are you going to get married?"

Kevin looked at his aunt like she had lost her mind. "I, umm...I don't know...but don't you think we should get our problems figured out before we do THAT?" He then looked over at Howie, wondering what he was talking to Brian about. He desperately wanted to know what was wrong with him that Howie wanted to go five days without sex...and then it had only been like one time before that in the last like month almost. Maybe not THAT bad...but he could count on his one hand the times they had, had sex in the last month and here it was the 28th.

Nick just ate his hot dog, chips and barbeque beans thinking he would just drown out what the adults were talking about that didn't make any sense to him.

"Because," Jackie said as she waved her hands around in a circle as if that would bring the words to her. "Because, you two are like a forever kinda deal. So what if you're having bedroom problems? You're his and he's yours. He loves you and you love him. I don't see why you're so worked up about it. I say look at the bigger picture. You've been dating for what... five years now..."

"Well...yeah..." Kevin said, not sure if he was comfortable with this conversation. Sure he had thought about marriage...and marriage with Howie...but right now he wasn't really sure if Howie wanted to marry HIM.

AJ noticed Kevin's inner battle and smiled. "Kev, have you talked to Howie about what is going on?"

Kevin got a guilty look on his face and shook his head a little.

"Talk to him," Justin said watching Kevin closely. "You told me two years ago to talk to AJ and not jump to bogus conclusions. I did and he laughed in my face and we had made up. Now you talk to your man!"

Harold nodded his head. "Talking is a good thing. It keeps us from making a big mistake and jumping to conclusions... take your own advice Kev," he said nodding at Justin.